William 'Billy' Collard, a millionaire property developer, is scheduled to go on trial in August over allegations he assaulted his son, Adam Collard, during a dispute over a cottage. The incident reportedly occurred on September 5, when Adam, accompanied by police, arrived at the family farm in Horsley, Northumberland, to have the locks changed on a property. Prosecutors allege that Billy Collard parked his car to block access, and when Adam attempted to enter, his father grabbed him, ripping his shirt and leaving reddening on his neck.
Billy Collard, 56, pleaded not guilty to one count of assault by beating. His defense claims he was acting in self-defense, and that financial and legal issues are involved. A court hearing in April detailed the accusations, with the specifics emerging more recently. The trial is set for August 7 at Newcastle Magistrates' Court.
Adam Collard, known for his appearances on Love Island, is the registered owner of the holiday cottage in question. Prosecutors stated that Adam purchased the cottage from the defendant's wife sometime in 2023. His father allegedly disputed the ownership.
Adam Collard is currently expecting his second child with fiancée Laura Woods, a television presenter who was in the U.S. covering the World Cup at the time of the recent court hearing. The couple began dating in October 2023 and announced Laura's first pregnancy the following July.
This is not the first time Billy Collard has faced legal scrutiny. In 2008, he admitted to wrongly claiming nearly £6,000 in housing benefits over nine months due to a sleep disorder, receiving a two-year conditional discharge and paying court costs. In 2015, he was held by police following an alleged assault on a neighbor and her daughter during a parking dispute. In 2019, HMRC seized £44,000 from him under the Proceeds of Crime Act, though the money was later returned after an appeal.
Despite his past legal issues, Billy Collard has been described as having a net worth of £3 million from his property development portfolio. He has been publicly supportive of his son, with Adam once calling him 'the coolest, most inspiring and generous guy I know.' The father and son shared a close relationship, with a photograph of them previously serving as Billy's Facebook profile picture.